6 Canned Bean Brands To Buy, And 6 To Avoid
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
With the right brand of canned beans, you can be enjoying a gourmet meal in half the time. Preparing them doesn't require much planning beforehand, as you can simply grab a can from the shelf and have a meal ready in around an hour or less. Even if you love starting your meals from scratch and typically prefer cooking the dried variety, it may be helpful to have various types of canned beans hidden away in your pantry for emergencies.
Buying pre-cooked beans makes adding plant-based protein to your diet more convenient. They're fiber-rich to help move things along your gut smoothly and keep your digestive system healthy. They can also last a long time in storage until you are ready to use them.
However, not all canned bean brands are created equal. Some are of poor quality and bland, while others may contain such heavy seasoning that it overpowers your own recipe. Another common problem is the excessive salt and sugar, which excludes many people who can't eat them for health reasons. Considering crucial factors like their flavor profile, varieties offered, and overall consumer satisfaction, we bring you a list of the best canned bean brands you can buy and those you should avoid.
Buy: Goya
Goya canned beans in sauces have a solid reputation for their rich flavor and taste. Popping off the lid reveals beans soaked in a flavorful mix of natural spices and seasonings, ready to eat immediately. But this company's range of premium beans in salt and water earn just as much praise. One Amazon customer said, "The can is packed with beans! [It's] more expensive than the house brand I've been buying, but there are many more beans in the can of Goya, [and] hardly no liquid." Therefore, despite being a little pricey, it's easy to see why this brand is famous.
According to Target reviewers, buying Goya beans means not having to deal with overcooked food. Shoppers describe the texture as firm and not mushy, much like if you cooked them yourself at home. You can eat your beans straight from the can or add them to chili or soups without worrying they will break down. The classic Goya canned black beans are a favorite among many reviewers. And some people say it's "by far the best quality I have ever tried."
Like most canned goods, Goya black beans have a considerable amount of sodium, 410 milligrams. Consumers who can't have that much salt can always go for this brand's low-sodium alternatives containing 135 milligrams of sodium per serving. This version does not swap health for taste, as many consumers admit they still taste excellent. Buyers can also enjoy other varieties of premium, organic, and refried beans from Goya.
Avoid: Caribbean Rhythms
Getting canned butter bean brands like Caribbean Rhythms are meant to fast-track your cooking process. This product offers the advantage of being cheap. But that is all the good that can be said about this brand, as it does not provide a solid foundation to build flavor during cooking.
Caribbean Rhythms doesn't have the same buttery taste you might expect from a good quality product. One Amazon customer said it "Had no seasoning and totally bland taste." This means working this product into your dish might require much more effort than you expect if you want it to taste right. A Walmart shopper who tried this product expressed their displeasure saying, "I didn't think you could ruin butter beans — that is lima beans. However, this company has done just that. Yuck." Unfortunately, there are several other negative reports from consumers about the contents of the cans. Other disappointed shoppers reveal that the cans contain too much water and far fewer beans than expected.
Buy: Bush's
One Amazon shopper said, "Nothing is better than Bush's Original Baked Beans if you are going to eat pork and beans out of a can! These are a staple in our pantry and have been for years." And this tells you nearly everything you need to know about the quality of the products this brand makes.
Thanks to a secret family recipe this company's original baked beans are tasty and flavorful even while cold. It has brown sugar for sweetness, balanced with mustard for a little tang. This unique taste has Amazon consumers making bold declarations like, "Try what you want you won't find better than these." Since Bush's Original Baked Beans contain 22% added sugars, it might not be everyone's cup of tea. Therefore, the company now has an option containing no added sugars, so no one is left out.
Variety is another selling point for Bush's brand. For instance, if you'd like to purchase baked beans, you can choose from Country Style, Homestyle, Honey Sweet, and Onion Baked. These contain different spice and herb blends, giving your dishes a unique taste that differs from any generic brand. Bush's also makes other canned beans, including kidney beans, pinto beans, and black beans.
Avoid: La Costeña
La Costeña black beans are soaked in tomato sauce and seasoned with onions, cilantro, and other natural spices. Although some consumers appreciate its flavor profile, many others remain unimpressed. One Amazon reviewer couldn't handle the strong taste of La Costeña charro beans and threw them out. Another person describes it as being too sour with a slightly odd taste. Cracking open the cans of La Costeña black beans reveals a few beans floating in a sea of tomato sauce, so you may need twice the number of cans you're used to, which is why some consumers just call it "soupy."
This company also makes other product types, such as canned pinto beans and refried black beans. Unfortunately, they might not be a step up from the original canned black beans. One Amazon shopper commented that La Costeña refried black beans are more "like watered down stale light brown beans" before adding that these are "horrible beans [that] I had to return." Therefore, it might not be worth buying, especially since there are better-tasting alternatives that cost the same and give better value for your money.
Buy: Heinz
The blue cans of Heinz Baked Beanz are regular items on the shelves of grocery stores. Unlike most American baked beans brands, the sweetness of this product comes from the tomatoes, as it has no pork. Therefore it is a suitable choice for vegetarians. But this product does not just contain plain beans in tomato water because it also includes other herbs and spices.
Even if you're not ready to prepare a full meal, Heinz canned beans are so flavorful that you can enjoy them straight from the can. The company commits to using only the best quality produce harvested primarily from farms in the US and Canada. The brand's unique way of processing the beans ensures all the flavor is locked inside the can and eliminates the need for preservatives.
Heinz baked beans are excellent on toast for that delicious English breakfast. Since it has only about 10% sugar, you will not get the overwhelming sweet taste that some other brands have. One Amazon shopper said, these are "The best beans! If you are from the UK you love these [because they are] a real taste of home!" Another person shared that it sure is a crowd-pleaser because of the nostalgia it triggers. Additionally, you have the opportunity to choose from other types of beans including Barbecue Beanz, Chilli Beanz, Curry Beanz, Organic Beanz, and several more flavors.
Avoid: Siete
Siete is a brand that provides shoppers with authentic Mexican foods. The company makes refried pinto beans, refried black beans, charro beans, and ranchero beans. These vegan products contain beans in a sauce of avocado oil and other spices. However, reviews about these products have not been all positive. Consumers typically appreciate that this company uses avocado oil because it is a healthy source of clean fats. But others have complained that while the refried black beans have a good texture, it's not seasoned enough. You might need to open up your spice cabinet to get this one to your desired profile.
Reviews of the Siete refried pinto beans are not much better. Some buyers said they threw it in the trash because they found its taste and smell repulsive and that even throwing in additional spices could not salvage it. One Walmart shopper wrote that the Siete refried pinto beans come with "A homogenized, wet Play-Doh consistency, that is totally devoid of flavor. Even after loading it with spices to jazz it up or bring something out, it was just bland, spiced dough."
Buy: 365 By Whole Foods
Everyone wants to save a buck, and getting a store brand is a great way. Unfortunately, some of them are not worth the money they save. Whole Foods' 365 is an exception, as this brand of canned beans gives you the same quality you might expect from a name brand.
Each can contains beans in water with no salt or added flavoring, giving you a clean base for your personal recipe. But even though it does not have any added flavors or seasoning, this brand of canned beans possesses a rich bean flavor. Some consumers still enjoy eating them from the can, which speaks volumes of the quality of produce it contains.
Whole Foods' 365 canned beans are firm and separate without clumping together at the bottom. One Amazon reviewer said as "a vegetarian, I rely on beans for many meals (especially working from home during the pandemic). These are flavorful, have a long shelf life, have no nasty ingredients added to them, and at a fantastic price." This brand is entirely organic and vegan, so it's a great base ingredient for diverse diets.
Avoid: Great Value
Great value canned beans are a fraction of the price of many others, so this might appeal to consumers shopping on a budget. This Walmart brand offers plain beans in salt water, as well as others like baked beans or refried beans that have added seasoning for taste. However, reviews for this brand of canned beans are mixed.
For instance, Walmart consumers describe the black beans from this company as having an "odd flavor" that they just could not ignore. Some people complained about the state of the beans after finding them broken or crushed when the cans were opened. Others added that Great Value pinto beans were undercooked, while another commented that they tasted burnt.
Negative comments also trail the other seasoned Great Value canned beans such as the baked beans and refried beans. One person said, "They shouldn't be selling this to anyone as food. It tastes sour," while also adding that it had a "nasty flavor." Another buyer described the baked beans as being too "vinegary." Considering that there are so many negative reviews, getting Great Value canned beans might not be the best choice since you can choose other brands in the same price range or a bit higher that taste better.
Buy: B&M
B&M canned beans taste quite unlike any other, so loyal consumers look out for them in the stores despite being surrounded by countless alternatives. It contains navy beans sweetened with molasses and flavored with other natural ingredients.
This company's baking style produces authentic-tasting baked beans that are sweet and flavorful, but not overly sugary like some other brands. These baked beans have a nice thick consistency as well. Some consumers call this brand the best you'll find in stores and although they are already excellent right out of the can, you can spice up your canned baked beans with various ingredients to personalize the taste. Besides the original baked beans, B&M also makes different varieties of baked beans, including Home Style, Country Style, Vegetarian, Boston's Best, and Maple Flavored.
One Amazon reviewer commented, "I've tried so many [baked bean brands] over the years. And yes, other brands have taken over the shelves in the market, but I will always look for B&M Baked Beans. They are closest to how I would have made [baked beans] years ago when I had the time." This company has existed for a little more than 150 years, and many buyers happily report that they still enjoy B&M canned beans as much now as they did during their childhood.
Avoid: Serious Bean Co
If you like beans and Dr. Pepper soda individually, why not combine them? Serious Bean Co does just that with its Dr. Pepper-flavored canned beans. However, with such unique flavors, proper execution is the difference between a hit product and a total failure, and sadly this product leans more toward the latter.
Serious Bean Co Dr. Pepper canned beans have an overwhelming artificial sweetness you might not enjoy. After trying this product, one Walmart customer said that they "have an artificial taste to them that started out almost like a soapy taste then an artificial fruity taste came through." Worst of all, many reviewers say it does not taste like Dr. Pepper at all, so loving the drink won't make this product easier to swallow.
With so many consumers calling this product too sweet, it's hardly surprising that it contains 34% added sugars. It's also not a good choice for a person who needs to be on a low-salt diet for health reasons, as it has 430 milligrams per serving. And finally, some shoppers complain that these canned beans are hard and poorly cooked.
Buy: Amy's Organic
If you want a great quality brand of organic baked beans, Amy's Organic is a great choice. The white beans are cooked in tomato sauce containing flavorful organic ingredients like mustard seed, maple syrup, tomato juice, cane sugar, and garlic. This is why when you pour them out of the can, they are already ready to eat. Each serving of Amy's Organic baked beans is sweet but does not have excessive sugar, just eight grams.
This product is kosher and contains no meat products, so it's suitable for a vegan diet. One Amazon buyer said, "When it comes to food I have eaten since childhood, it's hard for me to accept healthier substitutes, but this was an easy change. These were really delicious, had a great texture, and needed no added seasoning."
Amy's Organic also makes several other canned bean products, such as Vegetarian Traditional Refried Beans, which shoppers also love. Consumers share that it is tasty, well-seasoned, organic, smells amazing, and has the perfect thick consistency with no clumps.
Avoid: Van Camp's
According to the Van Camp's website, it's "America's original beans," and it has been around for over 140 years. And for nearly this long, consumers have loved this brand of canned pork and beans due to its rich but not overpowering flavor. However, things took a downturn for the Van Camp's brand only recently.
Previously happy consumers who have stayed loyal to the brand for years are now avoiding it in grocery stores as they complain that these once flavorful beans are now bland. One comment on Influenster said, "I grew up with these more than 50 years ago and would eat no others. Just in the past two months I threw uneaten beans from the eight-ounce cans in the trash. [They have a] horrible bland metallic taste." Others who had been eating this product for more than 60 years shared similar sentiments. One Walmart buyer speculated that the change in flavor must be due to the absence of pork fat and complained that it now tasted like a watery tomato sauce.